What is Voluntary Registration, why is it required

and what is The VRC? Michelle Fenlon, Company Secretary,

VRC.

West Midlands Regional Genetics Department.

Regulation/Registration

What does it mean?

Regulation is all about protection of the public.

Who needs to be regulated?All staff whose work has a direct impact on patient

care are required by law to be regulated e.g. those

undertaking testing, analysis and interpretation and those

supporting diagnostic and therapeutic functions.

Regulation/Registration

How does it work?By ensuring and recognising that staff are

performing to a level that merits regulation.

Benefits of registration to the professional?

Registration raises the status of registered staff

groups, by recognising that they are performing at a

level that merits regulation.

Regulation/Registration

Types of registration:• Statutory regulation: backed up by law

e.g. Health Professions Council (HPC), General Medical Council (GMC).

• Voluntary regulation: same system but without legal force; run by staff body

e.g. Voluntary Registration Council (VRC),

Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP).

Regulation/Registration

Our ultimate aim to achieve statutory regulation

through HPC or an equivalent regulating body.

Health Professions Council –(HPC)

The HPC was created in 2001 by an Act of

Parliament called the ‘Health Professions Order

2001’.

It is the independent UK-wide regulatory body

responsible for setting and maintaining standards of

professional training, performance and conduct of

the 13 Health Professions that it regulates.

Health Professions Council –(HPC)

HPC acts as the regulatory body for Clinical

Scientists in Genetics – amongst others.

Its main role as a regulatory body is to safeguard the

health and well being of the people who use the

services of the Health Professionals registered with

them.

Under new law all Health Professionals must be

regulated.

Health Professions Council –(HPC)

www.hpc-uk.org

Health Professions Council: 10 Criteria for Admission of New Professions

The Health Professions Council will expect any group applying to it forconsideration for statutory regulation to meet the following criteria:• Discrete and homogenous area of activity• Defined body of knowledge• Evidence-based practice• An established professional body• An established Voluntary register• Defined entry routes• Independently assessed entry qualifications• Standards of conduct, performance and ethics• Fitness to practise procedures to enforce those standards• Commitment to CPD

Health Professions Council –(HPC)

Before we can achieve our goal of becoming

registered with the HPC we need to belong to a

voluntary register, which needs to run for at least 2

years.

Health Professions Council: 10 Criteria for Admission of New Professions

The Health Professions Council will expect any group applying to it forconsideration for statutory regulation to meet the following criteria:• Discrete and homogenous area of activity• Defined body of knowledge• Evidence-based practice• An established professional body• An established Voluntary register• Defined entry routes• Independently assessed entry qualifications• Standards of conduct, performance and ethics• Fitness to practise procedures to enforce those standards• Commitment to CPD

Brief History of VRC

June 2004 - Dept of Health held a meeting with

aspirant healthcare professionals to discuss future

regulation.Groups in attendance:•Genetic Technologists (ACC/CMGS)•Cytoscreeners (NAC)•Anatomical Pathology Technologists (AAPT)•Retinal Screeners (BARS)•Ophthalmic Science Practioners (AOSP)•Critical Care Technologists (SCCT)

Brief History of VRC

Based on other voluntary registration bodies.

Mentored by RCCP.

Pump-primed by DH.

Secretariat support from Executive Business

Support (EBS).

VRC

VRC acts as an overarching structure with each

member group running its own separate voluntary

register.

Brief History of VRC

VRC acts as an over arching structure.

Benefits:• Recognition – ‘bigger voice’• Only one limited company• Use common documents e.g. code of conduct• Share best practice

Brief History of VRC

November 2004 – Agreement to proceed with VRC

and election of chair.

Setting up VRC

Selection of Council members:

Executive officers:

Chair – Terry Johnson (AAPT)

Registrar – Gary Creed (SCCT)

Treasurer – Christopher Mody (AOSP)

Secretariat - EBS

Company Secretary – Michelle Fenlon (ACC)

Prof. Body reps – deal with registration process

Setting up VRC

Selection of Council members

Set up a limited company

Setting up data base

Keeping a register

Setting registration fees to cover admin costs - £45

Brief History of VRC

January 2005 – March 2006 – individual groups

work on paperwork required to set up a voluntary

register; VRC work with solicitor on paperwork

required to set up VRC ltd.

April 2006 – VRC is launched!

VRC

VRC was launched on 25th April 2006.

Application forms & guidance notes are available on

the website.

Updates and further information available:VRC Newsletter

VRC Website

Professional body meetings/websites

BSHG Newsletter

www.vrcouncil.org

Health Professions Council: 10 Criteria for Admission of New Professions

The Health Professions Council will expect any group applying to it forconsideration for statutory regulation to meet the following criteria:• Discrete and homogenous area of activity• Defined body of knowledge• Evidence-based practice• An established professional body• An established Voluntary register• Defined entry routes• Independently assessed entry qualifications• Standards of conduct, performance and ethics• Fitness to practise procedures to enforce those standards• Commitment to CPD

VRC - Final stages

Identify individual groups to progress petition to

HPC.

Put together petition – team approach (VRC).

Delivery of petition and presentation to HPC.

Decision from HPC.

Acceptance by both Houses of Parliament.

All VRC registrants will automatically move across

to HPC.

www.vrcouncil.org